IPOH: A trailer carrying gas cylinders overturned along KM256.9 of the North-South Expressway Wednesday morning, spilling its flammable cargo into oncoming traffic.
Federal traffic chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Mohd Fuad Abdul Latiff said the incident occurred at around 9am..
"The trailer was heading north along the highway when it skidded and a number of gas cylinders were flung into oncoming traffic.
"Two cars heading south hit the gas tanks, causing two explosions with one of the cars catching fire," he said when contacted.
Kuala Kangsar fire and rescue department senior officer Shamsudin Abdul Karim said two people were critically hurt, while another suffered minor injuries when the Perodua Alza they were travelling in crashed into two fallen gas cylinders.
He said the victims – two boys and a man – who were travelling from Penang to Kuala Lumpur, could not avoid the cylinders in time.
"When we arrived at the scene at around 10am, we found that they had knocked into two gas tanks causing them to explode at the site. Five more gas tanks were also on fire.
"The boys were critically injured and have been sent to Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun in Ipoh for treatment, while the car driver was sent to the outpatient clinic of the same hospital," he said. 
